Faithful Brothers and Sisters are Doing the Same

1 Peter 5: 8-9: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

In 1954 Muzafer Sherif, a social psychologist, conducted a series of experiments known as the “Robbers Cave Experiment”. They separated 11 year old boys at a camp into two groups and encouraged the groups to develop a sense of rivalry with the other group through competitive activities. After making these two groups despise each other, they worked to bring these two groups together, which, as you could imagine was not an easy task. They eventually brought the two groups together by having them complete a task that was impossible without the other group. The result of this task, which Sherif called a “superordinate goal” brought complete reconciliation between the two groups. A “superordinate goal” is a goal that can be attained only if the members of two or more groups work together by pooling their skills, efforts, and resources.

Over the last two years, people have been torn apart from each other due to the pandemic. We have learned to fear one another, and learned to despise people who do not hold the same values as we do when it comes to masks, social distancing, and vaccinations. This problem has impacted the church as well. Brothers and sisters have separated due to different beliefs about the pandemic, the cure, and all of the politics that are involved in both.

1 Peter 5:8 tells us, however, that "the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Have you ever watched videos of animals hunting one another? The lion typically does not go after the pack, but goes after the one smaller animal that has wondered away from the pack. The same is true for our Christian walk. Christians who separate themselves from the church become easy targets to temptation and sin. We are in a battle! Christians need other Christians to help them in their walk and to prevent attack from the evil one.

Every year, as soon as the snow starts to melt (or earlier if you are Kent), many of us will begin to train and raise money for the tour. We do so because we understand that the camp needs the help of many contributors to bring the Gospel to those younger in their faith. The Tour also relies on support drivers, people who plan for the Tour, and the various individual churches that support this great goal by pooling their skills, efforts, and resources for this common goal.

While the world attempts to pull us apart, we are brought together for a shared purpose. In July, we will once again re-connect with brothers and sisters from congregations across the United States to focus on this one goal together…. And in doing so, we are strengthened by the family of believers.

I look forward to seeing you all soon. As you are struggling through the first few training rides, know that there are other faithful brothers and sisters doing the same, for this common goal.

May God bless you, your family, and your efforts for supporting the mission of the Flaming Pine Youth Camp.

In Him,

-Matt Robinson

Published 3/20/2022

#TourdeTogo